According to the removals trade body the British Association of Removers (BAR), Pearsons Home Moving Removals service, based in Middlesbrough, is on the brink of calling in administrators.

BAR has been fielding calls from angry customers whose property has not arrived at its destination.

Barbara Dodds and her husband moved to their new home in South West France last week and all their property was due to arrive on Wednesday after Pearsons picked it up from their Shropshire home last week.

But it has not arrived and she has been unable to contact Pearsons at all.

She said: "Eventually, we rang the British Association of Removers and they informed us that Pearsons was going into administration.

"We have no idea where our things are but we think they might be at the Riverside Industrial Estate in Middlesbrough, where Pearsons is based.

"We are now having to return to the UK to stay with our daughter in Shropshire and we will travel up to Middlesbrough to see if we can find our stuff.

"We only brought two small suitcases and we only really have the clothes we stand up in. They have my medication and everything as I only brought enough for a few days. All our personal documents are in that lorry and we have no idea where it is.

"We don't even know if they set off with our stuff. We assume they didn't."

Ian Studd, director general of the British Association of Removals, said: “A growing number of consumers are calling us and we are doing what we can to help.

“While we believe that the company will be going into administration it is still active and we are somewhat limited as to what action we can take.

“All we can do at the moment is take calls from consumers and help them with advice to try and get their contracts fulfilled.

“Once, and assuming the company does go into administration, then our processes can really get into gear in terms of helping them fulfil any potential claim there may be.

“Their goods will absolutely come back to them but until we know who is appointed we will try to support and assist to facilitate ongoing transactions to make sure all consumers' goods get to them.

“Pearsons were international, they were a broad scope mover. Most of their business is EU and international.

"We have been trying to chase them down all week. Therein is one of the key issues and I really empathise with those consumers.

"There is almost nothing we can do except offer advice until the company goes into administration."

Any affected customers are advised to contact BAR on 01923-699480 or by emailing compliance@bar.co.uk